Town gets grant for pump

The town of Harleyville got a much-needed boost to its budget in the form of a $107,200 grant that will be used to upgrade one of its sewer pumps.

"We're very relieved any time we can get a grant to help us," Harleyville mayor Charles Ackerman said. "We were going to make the upgrade anyway but without the grant we'd have to phase it in to accomplish what's needed."

Harleyville will upgrade pump station No. 2 located near the intersection of John and West streets. Ackerman said it is one of two pumps that handles the heaviest loads of the six pumps within the system.

"It's one of our workhorse stations," he said.

He estimated that the pump is as old as the system which was installed around 1980. He also said station No. 1, the other main pump, recently was refurbished at a cost of around $60,000. City engineers estimate the upgrade to station No. 2 will cost around $139,000 depending on the bidding process, which will be the next step.

The upgrade will include new pumps and electric systems and improvements to the existing well. The improvement to the system is expected to help the town draw more business to the industrial park on the east side of Harleyville.

The money is part of $11.4 million allocated statewide from the Community Development Block Grant funds.

Harleyville was one of 31 communities across the state to receive funding dedicated for new public water or sewer service.